280ai shooters

[muzz]

Folks shooting the 280ai

My new custom rifle will be done in a couple days. I was planning on shooting rl26 out of it with 160 accubonds up to the 168 bergers.
Is there a better powder for velocities? Not interested in temp UNstable powders.

 

[HomerOz]

G'Day Fella's,

Muzz, a couple of mates of mine have .280AI rifles, and love them!
Please find attached, a couple of images of some targets and their chronographed velocities.
FYI, these loads were safe in this rifle, and cases are still fine after multiple reloads!




Hope that helps

Doh!
Homer

 

[NWBlacktail]

I will probably never look any further then RL26, love that stuff. Not sure, but RL25 may give you a bit more speed.

IMR 7977 is definitely interesting as well, I just haven't really heard anything from other 280 Ackley guys yet. Might be a top performer. :mrgreen:

 

[muzz]

blacktail, what are you loading and shooting as far as loads? What are you chronoing? I think rl 26 will be a good powder.

 

[NWBlacktail]

168 grain Berger VLD Hunting
Fed 215
60.5 grn RL26 @ 2908 fps
Nosler brass
24" barrel

I think I could push it just a bit more, but I don't think I could get much past 2950 fps.

 

[JD338]

JD338

 

[sask boy]

Jim, I was hoping you were going to post that load of yours .

Blessings,
Dan

 

[Whitesheep]

I was going to post my .5 MOA 200 yard 140gr BT target, but why bother.

 

[OFFSHORE]

I've come to really like the Reloder26 powder. In my 280AI with 26" tube my pet hunting load is;

62.5 gr. RL26
Norma brass
WLRM primer
162 gr. HOR A-Max
3100 FPS .5 MOA @ 100 yds.

I have started playing with it in a 6.5x55 Swede as well. . .it has turned my little Swede into a completely different animal ! ! ! I'm very impressed to say the least in this cartridge/powder combo. This is factory Remmy 700 with 22" tube that has been bedded to a HS Precision stock. I have two hunting loads that I'm in love with;

1. 51.5 gr. RL26
Lapua brass
WLRM primer
140 gr. HOR A-Max
2900 FPS .5 MOA @ 100 yds.

2. 49 gr. RL26
Lapua brass
WLRM primer
125 gr. NOZ Partition
3020 FPS .75/1.0 MOA @ 100 yds.

With this Reloder26 powder I'm not seeing presser signs on these loads for my 280AI or 6.5 Swede, velocity is awesome and my barrels seem to run cooler between shot strings. This powder at how I'm loading, I would say is 95% +/- filling my cases at the chosen weights. I really like this powder and when time permits I plan on working with other calibers I have.

ABOVE LOADS HAVE BEEN TESTED TO BE SAFE IN MY RIFLES; 6.5X55 SWEDE LOADS SHOULD BE USED ONLY IN STRONG COMMERCIAL ACTIONS.

 

[JD338]

FWIW, RL22 works very well for me in my 280AI with the 160 gr AB.

JD338

 

[SJB358]

Very nice. Those 280's are hammering those 160's...

 

[sask boy]

Jim with the accuracy you are getting it really does not matter much but I was wondering if you have used a Chrony for your loads & what speeds are you getting.

Blessings,
Dan

 

[JD338]

Jim with the accuracy you are getting it really does not matter much but I was wondering if you have used a Chrony for your loads & what speeds are you getting.

Blessings,
Dan

Dan,

I develop all my loads with Oehler 35 chronograph set up at 15 feet.
The 160 gr AB is 3000 fps and the 168 gr ABLR is 2850 fps.

JD338

 

[sask boy]

Thanks Jim, I have another question :wink: what is the advantage in of using 215GMs over the 210s?
Thanking you in advance for this information.

Blessings,
Dan

 

[JD338]

Thanks Jim, I have another question :wink: what is the advantage in of using 215GMs over the 210s?
Thanking you in advance for this information.

Blessings,
Dan

Dan,

My gunsmith, Rob Canze at Williams Gun Sight suggested I use the GM215M primers. The Magnum primers will tighten up my groups. As you know, that rifle shoots everything into bug hole groups.

JD338

 

[muzz]

Does anyone know the max charge for rl26 in the 280AI? With 160 Accubonds and 168 bergers.

 

[Ridgerunner665]

Depends on your specific case capacity...

In mine, it is 61.5 grains with the 160 AccuBond and 61 grains with the 168 Berger Classic Hunter...at ~3.34" OAL.

Nosler brass.

 

[OFFSHORE]

Does anyone know the max charge for rl26 in the 280AI? With 160 Accubonds and 168 bergers.

+1 on your case like Ridgerunner said, it will depend on the inside volume area. I run fire formed Norma 280 brass with 62.5 grains below a 162 grain A-Max seated to 2.795" at the ogive. This is a pretty warm load, but I'm still good with case volume and pressure signs. It wouldn't hurt for me to back off 1 grain though. . .it just shoots good at this load.

 

[jmad_81]

168 grain Berger VLD Hunting
Fed 215
60.5 grn RL26 @ 2908 fps
Nosler brass
24" barrel

I think I could push it just a bit more, but I don't think I could get much past 2950 fps.

That is the exact powder charge I use with the 168 ABLR. I'm getting 2940 with it.